A cursory review of psychological concerns suggests that, absentstrategies to secure cures, the medical professions have become hooked on diagnosis and diagnostic testing. I was steuck by that during the first year of the pandemic whne testing was all the rage and hardly anyone seemed bothered by the fact that only 8-10% were positive and, apparently, not relevant to transmisability. Perhaps I was jaundiced by my recent experience with the cardiologist whose tests suggested a defective heart valve and “confirmed” the Afib I was already aware of. His attitude suggested that he had really achieved something in coming up with his diagnosis.

So, diagnosis is apparently central to compensation levels. Has that resulted in the elevation of diagnosis, rather than cure, becoming the motivation for treatment? Of the six medications originally prescribed for my heart condition, I am now down to one pill whose supply is about to run out. So, the question is do I even bother to try for a refill. While I do get very tired at the end of a sixteen hour day, that hardly seems unusual for someone of my age who is not normally hyperactive.

All of the pills came with recommendations not to stop taking them suddenly. I’m thinking that having reduced intake over 28 months is not sudden, especially since I do not feel any negative effects. Also, the last time I saw the cardiologist to tell me I could not have general anesthesia to complete the surgery on my nose, he gave me his cold.

Finally, why is addiction to internet use considered a “disorder?” Repetitive behavior is anything but disordered. Does the misunderstanding tell us that psychologists proceed from a normative rather than functional model to define disease? Do they even know what function means?